BMW Previews iNEXT Concept To Debut Later This Year

BMW has a new electric vehicle in the works. And it’s now provided the first official glimpse – limited though it may be – at how it will shape up.

Dubbed the BMW iNEXT, the new EV is set to enter production in 2021. And it promises to incorporate “all major areas of innovation in a road-ready vehicle.”

By that, we surmise the automaker means electric propulsion, (semi) autonomous capabilities, advanced safety systems, and the latest infotainment technologies. Unfortunately we don’t have much else to go on at the moment, and the solitary teaser image gives us very little.

Concept This Year, Production 2021

From what we can see, though, it looks more like an evolution of the i3’s design than the i Vision Dynamics and Vision Next 100concepts we saw last year and the year before. The roofline looks like it extends to a tailgate, instead of tapering off to a trunk. So we’ll be expecting some manner of hatchback or crossover instead of a sedan or coupe.

“The iNEXT project is our building kit for the future. It will benefit the entire company and all our brands,” said BMW chairman Harald Krüger at the company’s annual general meeting today. “For the first time, we are combining all key technologies for future mobility in one vehicle. The iNEXT is fully electric, fully connected and also offers highly automated driving. Today, we gave our shareholders a very first glimpse of the design of the BMW iNEXT. Later this year, we will be presenting the BMW iNEXT as a Vision Vehicle.”

Following the concept’s presentation sometime later this year, the model will be enter production about three years from now at the company’s Dingolfing plant. BMW’s largest production site in Europe, the factory currently produces models in the 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Series, along with the i3 and i8, as well as bodies for Rolls-Royce.